Integrated Inflatable Life Preserver Garment for Aircrew
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional life preservers worn around the neck cause bulk and restriction to head movement, interact with aircrew helmets, reduce downward visibility, and create snagging hazards during aircraft escape or other marine applications.
Innovation Solution
A personal protection garment with an integrated inflatable chamber that provides buoyancy to support the wearer's body on water, eliminating the need for a separate lifejacket and reducing bulk and snagging hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate lifejacket is worn over the protective flight garment, then buoyancy is provided to save the wearer from drowning, but bulk and restriction to head movement are caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective flight garment and lifejacket into a single integrated garment. The inflatable chambers are incorporated directly into the flight garment structure, eliminating the need for a separate lifejacket. This merging maintains buoyancy functionality while removing the bulk and restriction problems caused by wearing separate layers.
2Reliability
If a traditional life preserver is worn around the neck, then buoyancy is provided, but interaction with aircrew helmets occurs, further reducing head mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The life preserver functionality is merged into the flight garment itself through integrated inflatable chambers positioned within the garment structure. This eliminates the separate neck-worn life preserver that interferes with helmet wear and head mobility, while maintaining the required buoyancy support.
3Reliability
If a prominent life preserver is worn over the shoulders and front chest, then buoyancy is provided, but downward visibility is reduced and snagging hazards are created
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy-providing inflatable chambers are integrated into the flight garment's existing structure on the shoulders and chest areas. This merging allows the buoyancy function to be achieved without adding prominent external bulk, thereby maintaining downward visibility and eliminating snagging hazards during aircraft escape procedures.
4Reliability
If a separate protection garment and lifejacket are worn, then protection from drowning is provided, but undesirable bulk is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective flight garment and lifejacket into a single integrated ensemble. The inflatable chambers are built into the garment structure itself, eliminating the need for separate layers. This reduces the overall bulk and volume while maintaining full protection from drowning capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The garment provides effective buoyancy to prevent drowning while reducing bulk and improving mobility and safety for aircrew and other personnel in marine environments.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable chamber configured to provide buoyancy to support the wearer's body on water when inflated to save the wearer from drowning
Data Source
AI summary
A personal protection garment (110) configured to cover at least a part of a wearer's body in use, wherein the protection garment includes an inflatable chamber in region (119) configured to provide buoyancy to support the wearer's body on water when inflated to protect the wearer from drowning.